Of resumes and cover letters...

So, you might ask, now that I've filled out at least 200 applications and submitted my resume and cover letter for as many positions, what have I learned? I'll be happy to share the wisdom of a top head-hunter in LA.

Resumes
1. Don't bother with everything the "professional" resume writers tell you to put in your resume. Employers don't have time or the inclination to read it anymore. Besides, everyone is a quick study and has oodles of skills. Those skills belong at the end of the page under Technical Programs and Professional Skills. Skip the Objectives and anything else that qualifies as a hard sell. Cut to the chase. Employers want to see what you've done. So list your experience, starting with the most recent job first.

2. Don't list any more experience than can fit on one page. If you've been working for 20-30 years, you'll never get the chance to show your terrific personality or explain your great qualifications in person if you list them all on your resume. It will be so long that it will just get tossed. Think sound bites. Five or six entries are enough. Hopefully you haven't job-hopped so much that this will only cover two or three years. Do be specific. If you converted the company to computerized systems, say so. If you increased sales by 50%, spell it out. Just keep it brief and to the point. Remember that everything we read today is about one paragraph long, 7 or 8 lines at most.

3. Format your resume to make it easy to read. Center your name, address, phone number and email at the top of the page in bold print. Left align everything else on the page except the dates; align all dates with the right margin. Bold face the heading Experience. Use normal print for everything but headings. Next, start listing your experience. Put the company name, the city, and the dates you worked for them on the first line. On the next line, put your title or job description. On the third line, list your responsibilities and accomplishments while at the firm.

4. Education: If you have some college under your belt, say so. Employers like to know that you have the tenacity to stick with a program of study. If you have a degree, of course you'll want them to know. And if your GPA was respectable , list that too. List the name of the school, the program of study, your degree, and the date you graduated (or will graduate).

5. Technical Programs and Skills: Employers will look at these with a critical eye. They already know what the job entails and are looking to see if you're qualified. Be sure to list every real skill you possess that pertains to your career. Don't lie or embelish. No sense getting the job just to get fired. But don't overlook the important small skills that make you valuable. If you work with computers, list the software at which you are proficient.

6. MOST IMPORTANT: Keep it to one page in length! Format with narrow margins if you have to, but don't go to that second page.


Cover letters.
Don't bother unless the ad specifies that one is required. They usually end up in the round file, unread. Instead, write an email that states the position you're applying for, any recent experience that particularly qualifies you for the job, and be sure to include all of your contact information, i.e. phone number, email address. Again, keep it short and sweet. Remember that most people receive dozens of emails every day. If yours is long and drawn out, it won't get read. The delete button is oh so close. And don't forget to attach your resume. If you're using Microsoft 2007, be sure to save the file as a '97-2003 compatible document or most people won't be able to open it.

Now that you know what I've learned in the past seven months, you should have a lot less trouble getting your resume read than I've had... at least mine is finally getting some attention.